DEEP concern and alarm are foremost in the mind of Queensland St Vincent de Paul Society state president Brian Moore after his visit to flood-devastated Bundaberg.
Mr Moore, together with State St Vincent de Paul Society chief executive officer Peter Maher, national secretary Norm Moore and state Disaster Relief Committee chairman Ron Sullivan, spent February 7 and 8 visiting Bundaberg, Maryborough and Gympie.
While in Bundaberg, the team was able to fast-track the society’s approval process to lease new premises above flood levels.
One of the society’s two shops and its warehouse in the city were inundated in the recent floods.
Mr Moore said Maryborough and Gympie had “some very bad patches, although Bundaberg was by far the worst”.
“There’s the emotional trauma … so many people have lost their homes in Bundaberg,” he said.
“It’s like you or me coming home to find our house was washed away badly damaged or burnt down.
“A lot of these people won’t want to go back to their houses for a third time to face the possibility of another flood.
“So where do they go?”
Another major concern is that donations to the society’s appeal may not meet the level required to enable people to recover.
“Our target this time is $3 million,” Mr Moore said.
“To date, we have received just over $200,000 and we greatly thank those who have donated, but also encourage those who have not to consider helping the society deliver recovery.
“In 2011, we received nearly $7 million.”
So far about 50 houses in Bundaberg have been condemned.
Half of the 4000 houses flooded have water-damaged floorboards.
More than 1500 people are out of their homes and it will be several months before they can get back in.
Mr Maher said for “98 per cent” of the flood-affected people calling our help line from all over south-east Queensland, have said it was their second time.
“Our volunteers say these people are very distressed, very angry when they phone into our help lines for support,” he said.
“After a while as they talk, many of them will break down and start crying.”
It’s not just townspeople who’ve been affected.
“There are a lot of farmers who’ve lost everything – expensive equipment, crops, livestock,” he said.
“Many farmers in some of these communities are finding it difficult just to see their way forward to continue.”
Mr Maher said various reasons were being given for the fall in public donations.
“Some are saying they now pay a flood levy so why should they give any more help,” he said.
“Other commentators are talking about ‘donor fatigue’.”
St Vincent de Paul Society distributed all money collected in 2011 to flood victims.
“Every cent went to people in need,” Mr Maher said.
“Any money for the disaster was put into a separate bank account and used only for that purpose.
“Nothing went to administration – we even had our own people volunteering their services over weekends to manage the allocation of funds.”
Mr Sullivan said the society’s fund for helping those affected by the 2011 floods had only shut down in November.
“The fund was in operation for 22 months following the natural disasters of 2011, and has now exhausted all available funds,” he said.
“During its operation the society’s Disaster Relief Fund dispersed $6.75 million to 2515 households.
“In addition, at the (State) Government’s request, the society dispersed $24.72 million from the Premier’s Appeal at our discretion to assist those in dire need with 2582 households receiving assistance.
“Together this makes a total of $31.47 million worth of assistance given to 5097 households.”
Mr Moore said the society’s extremely low appeal funds were of major concern.
There were not so many people affected as in 2011, Mr Moore said, but those who were, were affected “substantially”.
“Flood-affected people in Bundaberg are walking around in a daze at the moment,” he said.
“I fear some may not recover from the emotional trauma.
“Once they get to their homes and see what’s happened, another phase of support will start.
“The society is going to get many, many more calls and goodness knows how we’re going to keep up – the society does not have a lot of money at the moment as we have been assisting people to meet the needs of everyday living costs.
“Ultimately, we’ve got to have faith.
“We pray that Our Lord can help us find enough money to assist these people to recover from these severe climatic events.”
To make a donation to the Queensland flood appeal, visit Vinnies.org.au, call 13 18 12 or send your donation to PO Box 3351 South Brisbane, Qld 4101.
